3 more storms could form in East Sea this year, threatening Vietnam

A new tropical depression has developed east of the Philippines and has a 70–80% chance of strengthening into a storm in the next couple of days. Forecasters expect it to enter the northern part of the East Sea between Oct. 19 and 20.

Starting the afternoon of Oct. 18, strong winds and rough seas are forecast to hit the northern and central areas of the East Sea, known internationally as the South China Sea, including the Paracel Islands area, as the system intensifies. A cold front moving down from the north around the same time could weaken the storm before it approaches land.

So far this year, 11 storms and four tropical depressions have formed in the South China Sea. Among them, storms Wutip, Wipha, Kajiki, Nongfa, Ragasa, Bualoi and Matmo all brought heavy rain and floods to northern and central Vietnam.

If three more systems appear, the total will reach 18, about 1.5 times higher than the annual average of 12–13. That would make 2025 the third most active storm year in three decades, behind only 2013 and 2017.

Natural disasters since January have left 241 people dead or missing in Vietnam, injured 389 others, and damaged more than 261,000 homes. Over 594,000 hectares of rice and crops were flooded, while 30,800 livestock and 2.7 million poultry were lost, causing an estimated VND53.8 trillion (US$2.1 billion) in damage.

The most destructive event so far has been Storm Matmo, which made landfall in China's Guangxi Province on Oct. 5 and unleashed historic floods across northern Vietnam. Thai Nguyen, Cao Bang, Bac Ninh and Lang Son provinces recorded record rainfall and widespread inundation, with over 230,000 homes flooded and nearly VND17 trillion ($650 million) in losses.